Palma Sola loses some trees

by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter

Most of the more than 700 trees planted this past year along the Palma Sola Causeway are doing well, but some have died for various reasons.

The causeway project, which involves a number of governments and an advisory group created to guide improvements on the scenic highway, has involved landscaping, construction of a boat ramp, reconfiguration of parking, relocation of newspaper boxes and the removal of invasive exotic plants.

In recent weeks, Palma Sola regulars have noticed some struggling trees - and some that have died.

However, any trees that die through June 2009 will be replaced by the contractor, J.C. Tree, according to county information outreach manager Randall Beckwith.

Additionally, the contract for J.C. Tree to water trees has been extended to aid in plants’ survival.

County and Bradenton officials identified several reasons for the loss of trees along the Manatee Avenue corridor that runs from 75th Street in Bradenton to Perico Island and on to Anna Maria Island.

“Some of the trees have died as a result of people removing the supporting stakes before they had enough time to be fully rooted; then they were blown down by the wind,” Beckwith said. “Other vandals have removed and destroyed bollards planted nearby that affected [tree] root systems. And some just died from the effects of being transplanted.”

Get breaking news

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts
via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds
appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.